John Boyd, the advisor to Kanye West’s 2020 presidential campaign, reflects on the rapper’s notorious speech in South Carolina referencing Harriet Tubman, describing it as a “train wreck.”
In his campaign event in July 2020, shortly after declaring himself a presidential candidate, Kanye West, now known as Ye, made controversial remarks about Tubman, claiming that she “never actually freed the slaves, she just had them work for other white people.” Tubman was a renowned abolitionist and activist who escaped slavery and helped other enslaved Black individuals gain freedom.
During the speech, Ye became emotional, mentioning that his father wanted him aborted and suggesting a monetary incentive of “$1 million” for having a baby to discourage the practice.
“He said some incredibly inappropriate things, particularly about Harriet Tubman,” recalled Boyd, who was present behind Ye during the speech, in a new BBC documentary about the rapper.
In an interview for “The Trouble with KanYe” with journalist Mobeen Azhar, scheduled to air in the UK on Wednesday night, Boyd revealed that Ye had planned to present his “10-point” plan for America, addressing education, freedom of religion, foreign policy, and more. However, he went off-script completely.
Reflecting on the chaos that unfolded, Boyd remarked, “Train wreck. I’m thinking, ‘You’re going to lose control over this whole scenario.'”
—Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) July 20, 2020
Despite facing widespread criticism, Ye also garnered support from a new group of fans due to his bold stance on core issues, particularly abortion.
“He gained a lot of respect from many right-leaning individuals for his boldness on their key concerns, notably abortion,” Boyd explained.
Boyd added, “If a portion of his audience pushes back, he will gravitate towards the segment that celebrates him. Where it will ultimately lead, I don’t know.”
